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Author Topic: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S  (Read 208 times)

N6ELO

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SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« on: February 21, 2023, 04:28:06 PM »

Hello All,
I recently purchased a RTL-SDR dongle and set it up on my Win10 computer. I'm using HDSDR software. It is working great is I use an antenna.
However, I have a cable to connect the SDR to the IF out on the Kenwood TS-950S and it does not receive signals well at all.
I'm sure there are some software settings in HDSDR that will solve the problem, but I have yet to fine the magic settings.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jon
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N2DTS

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2023, 04:49:11 PM »

If output?
Is the sdr set to the IF frequency or is it just an antenna output port?
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VE3TMT

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2023, 05:34:15 PM »

Neither of the IF OUT jacks on the 950S will provide a signal that is tunable by the dongle.

IF1 is a 8.83 MHz signal, IF2 is 100 KHz. The dongles lower tuning range is somewhere in the area of 24 MHz.

You will need to tap the 1st IF signal of 73.050 MHz. This signal is available at CN7 on the RF Unit.
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N6ELO

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2023, 07:53:59 AM »

N2DTS - Being new to this whole SDR Panadapter thing, I'm muddling with it. I did find the screen to make the changes, but could not get it to work. Based on the reply from VE3TMT, that explanis alot. Nothing is simple with this stuff.

VE3TMT - Thank you for your input. I'm hoping it will not be a difficult task to add a RCA jack to the radio and connect it to CN7. I'll check it out.

I could have bought a T/R switch, but they will only handle 100w and my 950 is capable of 150w, so I did not consider that a viable option.

Thanks and I'll reply when I hopefully get it resolved.
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VE3TMT

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2023, 08:01:36 AM »

It should be simple to solder to CN7. Are you using a buffer board between the radio and the dongle? You should, it will prevent loading down of the IF signal.

Once you get HDSDR installed, you have to set it to read an IF output, not antenna input. You then have to set the IF frequency to match that of the TS-950S, which is 73.050 MHz. Once you do this, you should see signals on the HDSDR screen.

Next step is to fine tune the offsets for each mode.

Once you get to this stage I can help you out, if needed.

Max
VE3TMT
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K4AX

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2023, 06:53:57 AM »

Another solution, just get a SDRPLAY or similar that will get the 8.83mhz first IF instead of a RTL dongle. 
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VE7DQ

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2023, 03:34:21 PM »

As K4AX suggested, I use an SDRplay RSP1 plugged into the 8.83 MHz IF output of a TS-850 using an older version (3.0.24) of SDR Console tuned to 8.830 (approximately) as a panadapter.  It works well.
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N6YWU

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Re: SDR Settings for Kenwood TS-950S
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2023, 01:50:08 PM »

Neither of the IF OUT jacks on the 950S will provide a signal that is tunable by the dongle.

Depends on which model of RTL-SDR you have.  The V3 from the rtl-sdr blog and the V5 from NOOELEC both can be used in Direct Sampling mode from 120 kHz to 30 MHz.  But many cheap Chinese clones can not (without opening them up for internal modification).  Direct Sampling mode isn't very sensitive, but usable for strong MF and HF signals, and for IF signals with sufficient gain.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2023, 01:53:15 PM by N6YWU »
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